DDT then, BPA now
Back in the 1940s, DDT was a miracle of modern science. It quickly and conveniently killed bugs without disturbing larger animals (or so we thought). It was so safe, in fact, that we produced DDT-laced wallpaper for your children’s bedroom.
Today, we know about the dangers of DDT to all living things and we wouldn’t dream of exposing our children to the chemical.
But have we really learned? Now we use BPA in food packaging and containers (like baby bottles). BPA is a hormone disrupter and is not safe for human exposure (especially in babies and growing children). Yet,
A study by the Environmental Working Group tested commonly eaten canned foods from grocery stores in three US cities, including Oakland. Out of 97 cans, 57 percent contained detectable and often high levels of BPA. Pastas, soups, and infant formula accounted for some of the highest levels. The group estimates that BPA exposure is unsafe in 10 percent of all canned food and a staggering one-third of infant formula.
[Source]
In another 10 years will we look back on BPA the same way we think about DDT now? What have we learned?
Filed under Healthcare, culture, environment : Comments (0) : Jan 25th, 2010 by tadfad
